9-29-2014

Hey! Remember this week is General Conference! We will be watching it together!! But I will be watching it in Spanish... wish me luck!!! Haha I love conference! Last conference I was in the CCm... Time is flying!! But this week was great!!!

We gave so much service this week!!!!!! We helped moved people in and out of houses! A little crazy but we did it! We helped moved one family who just had a baby this week! How crazy, right?!

This week I was taking a cold cold cold cold cold shower and then.. all of a sudden the water stopped running and I was left all soaping... for two hours. We give the example of repentance is the soap and water is the baptism... repenting without baptism is not the same.. I have lived that example this week. Lucky the water came back on but 2 hours with dry soap is not the funest thing in the world hyaahah

Women’s Conference was great!! I learned so much: Let your love for the savior show in the way you live your life. I am trying to do that! I am learning so much. Being a missionary is the BEST!!! I love guate!

Next week I wont be writing, I will be going to the temple!!!!! YAYAYAYAYAYYA I am so sooo sosososososososo excited. Sorry I am short on time but I sent letters out last week and I sent tons of photos today.

Have a great week I love you!!!

-Hermana Crouch 

9-22-2014

Wow, what a week! I cumplired 6 meses!! Where has the time gone!! Ahhh crazy. Well, one year ago this week, i decided to serve a mission, and here I am!! Who would have thought? And Happy birthday this week to momma upsahw!! 

This week has been really good. I have learned that debemos comprender que tiene que sentir un investigador para experimentar la conversion. Just like in PME, but i think i finally get it. The more I learn, the more I love Jesucristo. I want to be obedient because I love Him and I am so thankful to everything he has done for me. I think before my mission I wanted to be obedient because I knew it was right but now much else. I learning to love in a way that I didn’t even know was possible. The more I learn, the more aware of the cosas I should do better. It is a good think but at the same time, I realize how imperfect I am. Ah, good thing I have a lifetime to learn! 

I have been out 6 months but it feels like I have been gone for two weeks. I don’t think I have learned enough to have 6 months. Time is going by so fast and I don’t know how to make it slow down. 

The work is going good. The work is a lot different here, but I trust that this is where  I need to be. We had an awesome experience in Principios del Evangelio yesterday. We had an amazing class and the spirit was so strong. We talked about the importance of baptism and one of our eternal investigators made the decision to be baptized!!! And another one of our investigators decided to be baptized too! This is truly the Lords work. He knows who is prepared to hear the gospel and the things they need to hear. 

Everyday I am being more and more converted. I am so thankful for this opportunity to serve. 

And for a future package: can I get some more journal pages from desert book? Just the pages :) And some beef jerky... or chocolate haah just the things I cant get here.

Remember to have family prayer!!!! And know that I love you guys!!!!

9-15-2014

Yaaaaaawhoooooooo!!! 15 de September! Wow, what a week! 

FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS KARTER!!!! I cant believe you have three anos!!! I thought about that cute kid all day! Ahhh, another week here in Zona 18. I miss chiqui!! It rains all the time which makes it so cold. If you read the Guatemalan flag that is probs hanging come where, you can read that is says Libertad 15 de September! There are so many parades and stuff. I thought America was patriotic! Hahah I love it. 

Well, I have had really great study’s this last week. I am prepping for General Conference! Wow, it has almost been 6 months since the last one! Time flies! I was reading the talk por President Monson. I LOVE IT! Love- the essence of the gospel. It is so true. I am here because I love my savior Jesus Christ and I know he lives. Blame keeps wounds open. Only forgiveness heals. Missionary work can sometimes be heart breaking. I have been carried by the atonement. The more I learn about Christ, the more I am amazed at what he did for us. I know that this gospel is true. Everyday I learn something new and it confirms what I know to be true.

 This week we have been trying to find new people to teach. Our area is pretty small an my compa has been here for 6 months. But with the help of the members we are finding quality people who are prepared to hear the gospel.

I always joke around when people ask me where I am from. We have neighbors that are members and when they asked me where I am from I said Panama... hahah ovbio, I told them the truth. But it is always funny to see peoples reaction.  The little girl of the family made me a flag from panama ahaha I will send pictures in just a second. 

But other then that, everything is good! We get to go to the temple in Octubre!!!!! I haven’t been in so long!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY Okay, I love you guys!!!!! And I hope you have a great week!!!

-Hermana Crouch

9-8-2014

Zona  18, Alameda is where I am at. My compa es de Costa Rica. She is great!

Ahhhhh I miss my old area but I know I will learn to love this place. I have 3 banana trees growing in my front yard. AND IT IS SO COLD HERE! Going from the hottest place in the world to here is a big change. 

The people have a little bit more pisto here. I feel strange. I miss sitting on dirt floors and sweating... is that wired to miss? Haha but all will be great.

This week was great! I am getting to know my area and building up relationships with everyone. The members are great but the missionaries before never put them to work. You better believe that I will be using them! There is a lot of work to be done here. I know there is a great purpose. I will try and get some pictures sent your way.

OH!! My bishop is going to visit his mom in LA... he said if you guys want to send me a package or go and meet him feel free to do so! He only speaks Spanish, but he is awesome!! He is going there in Oct. #halloweenpackage?

I am working on a letter to send to you guys!! Sorry that this one is a little short!!

I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

-Hermana Crouch

9-1-2014

Sorry for being a chambona and not write last week. It was crazy because we when to the Volcano and then it was my birthday and everything was a little crazy.

I HAD THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!!!! First we gave service and learned how to be a frijol planter.. it is almost all we eat here. Then we went hiking and it was the best. My zona... I love them! We had cake and laughed so hard we cried.... we may have forgotten who is on the 10 dollar bill..... but then we figured it out... whoops I have only been out on the mission for like two weeks, I don’t know how I am forgetting all this information about the states. After p-day ended, we had some awesome plans (so I thought) We went to this little aldea where we have 6 fechas bautismal and we had a lesson planned at a members house. I walked in and it was a surprise party! Happy birthday!! Everyone was there and we had a testimony meeting and the spirit was so strong. I love everyone here!!  <my DL (best DL ever) made me a birthday card out of Liahona things... its a thing here. LOVE IT.Last week we also had an awesome conferencia por Elder Alanzo (in the area presidence) it was great! We received GREAT instructions. 

But all good things come to an end, I have changes. I cried when I found out. We have having so much success here. The area is on fire!!!

But here is an update: My converts: Leslie finished reading the book of Mormon!! Ludvin was in the choir at stake conference and his family is so cute! They are working hard to be sealed in a year. We had baptisms this week! I will send pictures. Sandra was almost baptized two years ago but her son died. She was a ref from a member. holy cow, she was so prepared to hear about the gospel. The spirit that was at her bap was so sweet. I love her and her daughter! Ahhhhhh I am sad, we have three bap this weekend and I wont be able to be there. I know it is knot important that I am not going to be there... but still a little sad.

I love being a missionary. I wish I could explain in words. This is where I am supposed to be and I have never been more sure of anything in my whole life. Thank you guys for all your support!! THE GOSPLE IS TRUE!!!